Undefeated Filipino prospect Kenneth “The Lover Boy” Llover will face the biggest test of his career when he takes on former WBC world champion Luis “El Nica” Concepcion of Panama in a 10-round super flyweight bout on August 17 at Winford Resort and Casino in Manila.The bout, part of the “Mano a Mano” card promoted by Gerry Peñalosa’s GerryPens Promotions, is a non-title fight but carries major implications for both fighters.Llover (14-0, 9 KOs), just 22 and hailing from General Trias, Cavite, has been on a hot streak, recently capturing the OPBF bantamweight title with a first-round knockout of Japan’s Keita Kurihara in Tokyo. That win followed another first-round stoppage of Tulio Dekanarudo in Osaka for the OPBF Interim title.Concepcion (40-11, 29 KOs), a seasoned veteran and former WBC Silver flyweight and super flyweight champion, returns after a year-long layoff. His last fight ended in an eighth-round TKO defeat to Mexico’s David Cuellar Contreras in October 2023.With Llover’s youth and momentum going up against Concepcion’s experience, fans can expect an exciting clash of generations as both boxers look to make a statement in Manila.

Filipino cue artist Chezka Centeno came heartbreakingly close to a historic gold medal at the 2025 World Games, falling to China’s Han Yu, 7-6, in a dramatic women’s 10-ball final on Wednesday, August 13.Centeno clawed her way back from early deficits — 0-3, 3-4, and 4-5 — and seized control at 6-5, seemingly on the cusp of victory. But a critical miss in the final rack opened the door for Han, who capitalized and ran the table to snatch the gold on home soil.The result marked sweet revenge for Han, who had lost to Centeno in the 2023 World 10-Ball Championship final in Austria. Notably, this was also Han’s second win over the Filipina in Chengdu, having edged her in the group stage, 7-6.Despite the painful finish, Centeno impressed throughout the tournament. She rebounded from her group stage loss to Han by dominating Savannah Easton of the United States, 7-2, to move into the knockout rounds. She then cruised past Mayte Ropero of Spain, 7-2, in the quarterfinals, and ousted China’s Shasha Liu, 7-4, in the semifinals.Cheered on by Filipino legends Efren “Bata” Reyes, Francisco “Django” Bustamante, and Rubilen Amit, Centeno showed grit and brilliance — but it wasn’t quite enough to bring home gold this time.Still, the silver medal is a testament to her consistency and elite standing in the global billiards scene.

The Filipinas were officially dethroned as ASEAN MSIG Serenity Cup champions after a 1-1 draw with Myanmar on Wednesday night, August 13, ending their bid to reach the semifinals.The defending champions needed a two-goal win to reach the semifinals, but the draw ended their campaign and officially dethroned them. Myanmar topped Group B with seven points (two wins and a draw) and will face Thailand, the Group A runner-up, in the semifinals.Australia U23 also advanced after a dominant 9-0 win over Timor-Leste, finishing second in Group B with six points—including a 1-0 victory against the Philippines last Sunday. The Young Matildas will meet Group A leader Vietnam as a new ASEAN champion will be crowned this year.Myanmar’s Win Theingi Tun opened the scoring with a penalty kick in the 33rd minute, after drawing a foul from Filipinas goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel. Nina Mathelus gave the Philippines hope with a second-half equalizer, but the Filipinas couldn’t break through again. They had opened the tournament with a commanding 7-0 win over Timor-Leste, only to falter with a narrow 1-0 loss to Australia in their second match.This marks the first time since 2018 that the Filipinas failed to reach the semifinals of the regional tournament.Torcaso fielded a squad with seven new faces, but key players like Sarina Bolden (injury), Angie Beard, Jaclyn Sawicki, and Sara Eggesvik were unavailable due to club duties. The tournament fell outside the FIFA international window, meaning clubs were not obligated to release players.Joining Myanmar and Australia in the semifinals are Thailand and host Vietnam. A new ASEAN champion will be crowned this year.

Gilas Pilipinas’ FIBA Asia Cup 2025 campaign ended in the quarterfinals as Australia showcased its world-class talent, cruising to an 84-60 win on Wednesday night, August 13.The Boomers came out firing, draining seven three-pointers in the opening quarter—including three from Jaylin Galloway—to take a commanding 29-12 lead. From there, the two-time defending champions maintained control, never allowing Gilas to mount a sustained comeback.Despite the early deficit, Gilas fought valiantly with Dwight Ramos and Kevin Quiambao leading multiple rallies. However, each surge was quickly answered by Australia’s potent offense, which mixed deadly perimeter shooting with strong inside play.“We made too many mistakes. Australia is one of the top teams in the world. If we want to compete with them, we need to be sharper in execution and preparation. But I think it will come in time,” Ramos admitted. The loss marked the end of a gritty run for Gilas, who reached the quarterfinals despite injuries, chemistry challenges, and inconsistency.Still undefeated, world No. 7 Australia advanced to the semifinals and will face the winner of Iran versus Chinese Taipei. The game also marked the first official meeting between the Philippines and Australia since their infamous 2018 brawl, with both sides showing cooler heads this time.With this experience, Gilas gains valuable lessons and a clearer sense of what it takes to compete with Asia’s best—especially as they prepare for another showdown with Australia in the upcoming FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.Gilas Pilipinas head coach, Tim Cone gave some insights after the game and realized that their opponent is very superior in terms of athleticism and length, although they were trying to keep the pace slower, but they (Gilas) didn’t have the discipline to stick to that game plan. "The Australian athleticism and length, even though you see it on video, you realize that they are superior. We just had a hard time staying in front of them and challenging their threes, so they got up their shots quickly." We were trying to keep it at a slower pace, but we didn't have the discipline to do that," Cone stated."We really liked our time together. I like the way we play, I like the togetherness, they are all easy to coach, but I didn't like our performance tonight. I didn't think we stepped up as much as we wanted to," he added.

The World Games 2025 in Chengdu is underway, with Filipino athletes leaving it all on the field, striving not just for personal glory but also to bring pride and recognition to the Philippines in theirAs of August 14, Team Philippines has secured a total of three medals—two silvers and one bronze.

Zianbeau Edoc and Lisa Sarines reigned supreme in their respective 11-14 age divisions of the ICTSI Pradera Verde Junior PGT Championship on Wednesday, August 13, at Pradera Verde in Lubao, Pampanga.Edoc turned in a solid closing round of 70 to complete a dominant performance in the boys’ 11-14 division, finishing with a total of 141 for a convincing win, while Vito Sarines carded the day’s best score of 69 to secure runner-up honors at 143. Race Manhit posted a 72 to finish third with 146.“I was making more putts today and hitting my wedges closer to the pin. I’ve learned the importance of starting strong and reading the greens better,” said Edoc, who notched back-to-back wins after skipping the first four legs of the series.In the girls’ 11-14 bracket, Lisa Sarines surged past twin sister Mona with a brilliant 68 to capture her third leg title, closing with a four-under 140 total. Mona, who shot at 71 in the opening round, matched that on Day 2 to capture silver at 142.“It feels very refreshing and relieving. I’ve been working harder and harder with my coach,” Lisa shared after reclaiming the top spot in the division.Kendra Garingalao (73-151) placed third, maintaining her No. 3 spot in the rankings behind the Sarines twins.

With determination and the Philippine flag on his back, Carlos Baylon Jr. delivered an outstanding performance at the 2025 World Games, defeating Kazakhstan’s Islam Karimov, 2-0, to claim the bronze medal in wushu sanda on Tuesday at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Centre Gymnasium.Baylon set the tone early with aggressive takedowns and sharp striking, dominating the bout and securing a much-needed win for Team Philippines. “I am just happy to win this bronze medal,”  who earlier this year also captured gold at the IWUF 10th Sanda World Cup in China. “I hope I can win more tournaments and give pride to our country.” said Baylon.His podium finish closes out the wushu team’s campaign in Chengdu on a high note, following Krizan Faith Collado’s narrow bronze-medal loss against Vietnam’s Thi Phuong Nga Ngo.With Baylon’s bronze and an earlier silver secured, Team Philippines now holds two medals at the World Games, with five days of competition remaining. Baylon’s victory adds to the nation’s momentum and stands as a testament to Filipino resilience and passion on the world stage.As the 2025 World Games continue, Filipino athletes remain focused on bringing honor to the flag and inspiring the nation.

Shaina Nitura made a rousing V-League debut for Adamson University, while College of Saint Benilde held firm against a late rally by Colegio de San Juan de Letran as both squads preserved their spotless records in the 2025 V-League Collegiate Challenge, Tuesday, August 12, at the Paco Arena Sports and Events Center in Manila.Fresh from her stint with Alas Pilipinas in the SEA V.League, the Adamson sophomore outside hitter unleashed a 28-point explosion off 27 from attacks and one from a block to cruise the Lady Falcons past Far Eastern University in a five-set thriller, 25-22, 25-21, 17-25, 22-25, 15-11.Nitura came up big in the decider, firing five crucial points to give Adamson a 23-20 cushion before closing out the match and notching the team’s second straight win.Head coach JP Yude admitted that passing woes in the middle frames nearly derailed their momentum but lauded the grit his players showed down the stretch.“We started as a new group, and this is where we’re gaining our confidence. This is also where their character is really tested,” Yude said.Frances Mordi backed Nitura with 15 points, while Lhouriz Tuddao and MG Del Moral chipped in eight each for Adamson, which now shares the tournament lead with Benilde. FEU’s Gerzel Petallo finished with 18 points, while Jaz Ellarina added 16, including seven blocks.

De La Salle University and University of Santo Tomas kept their winning streaks intact in the 2025 V-League Collegiate Challenge, dispatching their opponents in contrasting styles Tuesday, August 12, at the Paco Arena Sports and Events Center.The Green Spikers fended off a late scare to sweep National University, 21-17, 21-15, 33-31, for their second straight win. La Salle nearly let a 22-18 lead slip in the third set, but Cameroonian middle blocker Issa Ousseini delivered a crucial service ace to reach match point. Ousseini posted nine points from four attacks, four blocks, and an ace, including two excellent  digs. Eugene Gloria and MJ Fortuna also tallied nine markers apiece, while timely contributions from bench players Rui Ventura and Yoyong Mendoza helped seal the win.Coach Jose Roque said he challenged his team to show growth from their opening match. “I only told the team one thing before the game — to see if we can perform better than in our first match, so we have a gauge if we’re improving or not. No pressure because this is just pre-competition. Winning is just a reward; what matters is moving well and showing something on the court,” Roque explained.Mac Bandiola led NU with 14 points, all from attacks, while Jan Abanilla chipped in seven.

The PLDT High Speed Hitters stormed into their first-ever Premier Volleyball League (PVL) finals after rallying from a 1-2 set deficit to dethrone the powerhouse Creamline Cool Smashers in a gripping five-set thriller, 27-25, 22-25, 19-25, 25-16, 15-10, Tuesday night, August 12, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.Creamline appeared poised to extend its reign after taking the second and third sets, seemingly on track for a ninth straight finals appearance. But PLDT turned adversity into fuel as they roared back with a commanding fourth-set win before tearing though the Cool Smashers in the decider — leaving the 10-time league champions stunned and the crowd in disbelief.Savi Davison was the undisputed hero of the night, exploding for 34 points built on 30 attacks, two blocks, and two aces, while adding nine excellent digs and nine excellent receptions. Her brilliance shone brightest in the fifth set, where she delivered eight points, including the first three and the final four — capped by a booming crosscourt kill that sliced through two Creamline defenders to end the two-hour, 12-minute battle.

After a rollercoaster ride through the group stage, Gilas Pilipinas finds itself facing one of the biggest challenges of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup: a quarterfinal clash with powerhouse Australia.Gilas' path to this do-or-die matchup was anything but smooth. Early losses to Chinese-Taipei and New Zealand pushed the team into a tough bracket. That left them with no choice but to face the tournament’s top seed far earlier than hoped.But if there’s one thing head coach Tim Cone has learned, it’s that this team knows how to rise when it matters most.“Australia is pretty much the No. 1 seed in the tournament, and for us to beat them it would be an upset,”  Cone admitted.“But beating Iraq, and the way we won over Saudi Arabia, has given us some momentum. Hopefully, we can carry that into the Australia game.” he added.That thrilling 95–88 overtime victory against Saudi Arabia — punctuated by a clutch game-tying three from Justin Brownlee with 3.7 seconds left — kept Gilas' hopes alive. Kevin Quiambao also made a strong case for a permanent spot in the rotation. He scored 17 points and hit two big threes in extra time.Australia, winners of the last two Asia Cup tournaments (2017, 2022), have yet to drop a game in the continental competition. They swept Group A with dominant wins over South Korea, Lebanon, and Qatar. The team was powered by the stellar play of Jaylin Galloway (18 PPG, 3 RPG, 2.3 SPG).Gilas knows what’s at stake — and who stands in their way.“Losing the first two games of the tournament got us here. But we figured that if we’re going to do something special, we have to go through Australia at some point. And now that it’s here in front of us, we’re gonna do our best to get at them. We didn’t expect to play them this early,” Cone stated.This quarterfinal isn’t just a battle for a semifinal berth — it’s also the first meeting between Gilas and Australia since the infamous bench-clearing brawl in 2018 at the Philippine Arena during the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.That incident drew global attention and led to heavy sanctions for both teams, leaving a dark mark on their history. But both federations have since moved forward.“That was in the past. We understand that and we have learned from that. We just play basketball and that’s what we have to focus on.” said SBP President Al Panlilio.Panlilio also noted that relations between the SBP and Basketball Australia have since improved, with the Aussies even expressing excitement over hosting Gilas later this year in the World Cup Qualifiers.Gilas enters Wednesday’s 7 PM (Philippine time) showdown as heavy underdogs, but if there’s one thing this team has shown, it’s their ability to thrive under pressure. With momentum on their side, Gilas is determined to shock the world. 

The Siargao International 6000 Surfing Cup is set to showcase the excitement and allure of Philippine surfing from October 23 to 31 in scenic Siargao.As the highest-ranking World Surf League (WSL) qualifying series ever hosted in the Philippines, the event is cementing Siargao’s reputation as a premier destination for professional surfing. The tournament will feature 128 male and 64 female top surfers from countries including China, Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, and the Philippines, all vying for a $50,000 top prize.Earlier this year, the WSL staged the World Junior Championships in La Union, and this time, an even bigger event aimed at further promoting sports tourism in the country is set to take place. Philippine Sports Commission chairman, John Patrick “Pato” Gregorio emphasizes that the beauty of this kind of sports will help to boost sports tourism in the country and it is an economic driver. “This hosting is part of the sports tourism program that we are pursuing. We believe that sports tourism is an economic driver. And why surfing? Because it’s a beautiful sport. And with 7,100 islands, how can we go wrong? As long as we see the leaders really pushing, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t support it,” said Gregorio.“There’s magic in Siargao, there’s magic in Baler, there’s magic in La Union,” he added.Nevertheless, this time, this bigger event aimed at further promoting sports tourism in the country. “It’s not just for the athletes but for the local communities as well, I love all sports but surfing has a very special place in my heart” said Presidential son and Sports Ambassador Vincent Marcos at PSA Forum.Also present were Philippine Sports Commission chairman Patrick Gregorio, House Committee on Youth and Sports chairman Rep. Mike Dy, Rep. Rommel Angara, Philippine Surfing Association president Dr. Raul Canlas, tournament technical director John Carby, world No. 3 longboard champion Jay-R Esquivel, and Nildie Blancada of the Siargao Surf Association.

Vacation is over and now is the time to work hard. Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala is back on court and training hard at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, Spain. The 20-year-old resumed practice after a shoulder injury forced her to withdraw from the Cincinnati tournament.Eala’s injury also impacted her Montreal Open campaign, where she battled valiantly but ultimately fell to Czech star Marketa Vondrousova in three sets: 6-3, 1-6, 2-6.Now ranked No. 68 in the world, Eala is determined to bounce back and make a strong showing at the upcoming US Open. Her recent rankings dip (from a career-high No. 56 in June) has only stoked her drive to rise even higher. All the best, Alex. 

A hard-fought 2025 MPBL Season matchup at Batangas City Coliseum turned troubling after a violent incident on Monday night, August 11.Gensan’s Michole Sorela threw a punch at Mindoro’s Jonas Tibayan at the 7:34 mark, knocking him unconscious. Tibayan suffered a broken jaw, a busted lip, and a fractured shoulder after hitting the floor hard, and had to be stretchered out.According to Mindoro Tamaraws team owner Pola Mayor Ina Raymundo, Tibayan will be transferred to a Manila hospital for further evaluation.Meanwhile, the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) also handed Michole Solera of the Gensan Warriors a lifetime ban and a ₱200,000 fine following a disqualifying foul that left Jonas Tibayan of the Mindoro Tamaraws hospitalized.This strong sanction comes as the league reaffirms its stance on player safety and sportsmanship on the court."We condemn the incident, and the MPBL won't tolerate such actions. It compromises the player's safety and taints the league's image."I've seen the worst (in basketball) and this is one of them. The league has the full authority to impose sanctions on this deplorable behavior," said MPBL commissioner Kenneth Duremdes.Despite the incident, Bam Gamalinda paced Mindoro with 21 points and Wendell Comboy added 16, helping the Tamaraws secure the win.We wish Jonas Tibayan a full and speedy recovery.

With just 32 days to go until the historic FIVB 2025 Men’s World Championship, preparations are in high gear. From the PNVF and Local Organizing Committee (LOC) to major government agencies—led by Malacañang and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC)—everyone is working together to deliver a world-class volleyball event on home soil.“Everything is on track when it comes to preparedness,” PNVF president Tats Suzara assured the public.Also in attendance was Vinny Marcos, co-chair of the LOC alongside Senator Alan Peter Cayetano and Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, as excitement builds for the September 12–28 global showdown at Smart Araneta Coliseum and SM Mall of Asia Arena. “It’s going to be busier weeks ahead of us with all agencies working hand in hand,“We’re thankful to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza and son Vinny, who is part of the LOC, and the FIVB for helping us.” Suzara added. 

Gilas Pilipinas officially earned a spot in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup quarterfinals after escaping host country Saudi Arabia in overtime, 95-88, at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah on Monday, August 11 (Tuesday, August 12, Manila Time).Justin Brownlee produced another miracle as he drained the contested triple to force OT and finished with 29 points, five assists, and four rebounds for Gilas, setting up a date with two-time defending champion Australia on Wednesday, August 13. With 3.7 seconds remaining, Brownlee tied the score to 79-all before Kevin Quiambao sank a pair of triples in the extra frame to complete a 17-point performance, including three dimes, and three deflections. 

Defending champion De La Salle University is headed back to the finals after overpowering host Japan University Select Team, 88-75, in the 2025 World University Basketball Series (WUBS) Final Four on Sunday, August 10, at the Yoyogi National Gym in Tokyo.The Green Archers broke the game open with a decisive 22-7 run in the second quarter, turning a slim 19-17 lead into a commanding 41-24 halftime advantage. Despite a stronger second-half push from the Japanese squad, La Salle held firm to secure its second straight WUBS championship appearance.La Salle, the UAAP Season 87 runner-up, will face either Korea University or Nippon Sport Science University in Monday’s title game. Last year, the Archers claimed the title over Korea University, 101-86, led by Kevin Quiambao, who now plays in the Korean Basketball League. This time, Mike Phillips anchored La Salle’s charge, building on his strong quarterfinal performance against National Chengchi University of Chinese Taipei.Supporting Phillips were Mason Amos, Kean Baclaan, Jacob Cortez, Luis Pablo, Earl Abadam, and Vhoris Marasigan.Meanwhile, UAAP champion UP exited early, falling 75-71 to Korea University in the first round and 96-77 to Australia’s University of Sydney in the battle for fifth place.The WUBS is an annual knockout tournament featuring eight collegiate champion teams from across Asia.

The Philippines’ title defense in the ASEAN MSIG Serenity Cup suffered a setback on Sunday night, August 10, with a 1-0 defeat to Australia U23 at Viet Tri Stadium in Phu Tho, Vietnam.Australia’s Alana Jancevski scored the lone goal in first-half stoppage time, taking advantage of a defensive lapse by Azumi Oka to slot a left-footed shot past Filipinas goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel.Both teams now have three points in Group B. The Filipinas previously overwhelmed Timor-Leste, 7-0, in their opener, while Australia kept their semifinal hopes alive with their first win of the tournament.The Philippines will next face unbeaten Myanmar on Wednesday, August 13, at Lach Tray Stadium in Haiphong, needing a positive result to secure a semifinal berth. Australia U23 will play winless Timor-Leste on the same night.The Filipinas’ best opportunity came in the 53rd minute, when Hali Long’s header from a Chandler McDaniel corner was denied by Australian keeper Chloe Bell Lincoln.The result also provided a measure of revenge for Australia, who lost 1-0 to the Philippines in the 2022 edition of the tournament, previously known as the AFF Women’s Championship.

Kaila Napolis made history for the Philippines at the 2025 World Games in Chengdu, China, seizing a hard-earned silver in the Jiu Jitsu Newaza -52kg division. Napolis thrilled fans with an electrifying run, defeating Israel’s Pnina Aronov in the semifinals. She showcased exceptional skill and heart throughout the tournament, ultimately finishing second after a hard-fought gripping final against South Korea’s Eon Ju Im.“I am a little disappointed I did not get the crucial point. But I am still grateful I was able to represent the country here,” Napolis said.Despite the defeat, Napolis gave the country reason to celebrate by clinching the Philippine team’s first medal in Chengdu after three days of competition.With this achievement, Kaila joins an elite group of Filipino athletes — Marlon Manalo, Arriane Cerdena, Jorge Fernandez, Arnold Baradi, and Mike Ventossa — who have earned silver medals on the prestigious global stage of the World Games.Her achievement raises hopes for more medals from the Philippine contingent, which is led by chef-de-mission Stephen Arapoc, and sets a positive tone for upcoming competitions. With Napolis’ silver, the team is motivated to push harder for further success in the competition.